Immune and clinical parameters associated with Leishmania infantum infection in the golden hamster model

For experimental infections with viscerotropic strains of Leishmania, a suitable animal model is not yet defined. In the present work, we have reappraised the use of golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) as an experimental model for infection with Leishmania infantum. Groups of hamsters were challenged by the intracardial route with doses ranging from 10(3) to 10(5) infectious promastigotes and the animals were monitored for 1-year follow-up period. The outcome of the infection was assessed by clinical symptoms of leishmaniasis, parasite loads in both liver and spleen, humoral response to Leishmania antigens and antibody levels in kidneys. The humoral response was analysed using either crude antigens (by ELISA and Western blotting) or several recombinant Leishmania antigens (Hsp70, Hsp83, LiP2a, LiP2b, H2A, H3 and KMP-11). From the analysis of all these parameters, we established the existence of three groups of animals: symptomatic or susceptible, oligosymptomatic, and resistant. Given the parallelism existing between the outcomes of Leishmania-infection in hamsters, dogs and humans, we believe that our data illustrate that the hamster is an excellent experimental model to study visceral leishmaniasis and for the design of vaccine development.     

The socioeconomics and management of Santiago de Chile''s public urban forests

Santiago, Chile's semi-arid climate and urbanized environment poses a severe limitation for the establishment and maintenance of urban forests. Municipalities, or comunas, are the main stakeholders in the management of Santiago's public urban forests. A tenable hypothesis would be that as the socioeconomic level of a comuna increases, the better the condition of a comuna's urban forest. Unfortunately, there is little comprehensive information on management, public expenditure, and structure of Santiago's public and private urban forests. To examine this hypothesis, Santiago was divided into socioeconomic strata, then using air photo interpretation and stratified field sampling, urban forest structures were quantified by socioeconomic strata. In addition, interview surveys were used to determine municipal urban forest management and expenditures for different public urban forests based on socioeconomic strata. Urban forests in the high socioeconomic strata had fewer public trees, greater tree cover, tree and leaf area density, and leaf area index than lower socioeconomic strata. The percentage of total municipal budget allocated to public urban forest management was consistent among strata, but the total public urban forest budgets were greater in the high socioeconomic strata. Public urban forest structure is related to the socioeconomic strata of Santiago's different comunas.     

Plant growth,yield, and fruit quality of ‘Fallglo’ and ‘Sunburst’ mandarins on four rootstocks

Vegetative growth, yield, and fruit quality of ‘Fallglo’ and ‘Sunburst’ mandarins on ‘Rangpur’ lime, ‘Swingle’ citrumelo, ‘Orlando’ tangelo, and ‘Cleopatra’ mandarin were evaluated under subtropical climate of Northern São Paulo State, Brazil, from 2000 through 2006 harvest seasons. ‘Fallglo’ mandarin trees had the highest cumulative yield on ‘Rangpur’ lime, and the smallest on ‘Swingle’ citrumelo and ‘Orlando’ tangelo. Plants of this cultivar had the highest yield efficiency on ‘Rangpur’ lime, and the lowest on ‘Orlando’ tangelo. ‘Sunburst’ mandarin trees began to bear fruits later than ‘Fallglo’ mandarin trees, with no differences in yield induced by the rootstocks. ‘Cleopatra’ mandarin induced the most vigorous growth in ‘Fallglo’ mandarin as compared to plants on ‘Swingle’ citrumelo. On the other hand, the largest trees of ‘Sunburst’ mandarin were registered on ‘Orlando’ tangelo, and the smallest on ‘Rangpur’ lime. ‘Sunburst’ mandarin had higher alternate bearing than ‘Fallglo’ regardless the rootstock. Fruit weight and juice content were not affected by the rootstock. These two mandarin scion cultivars may be considered adequate alternatives to produce good fruit quality for the fresh fruit market. ‘Cleopatra’ mandarin and ‘Rangpur lime are suitable rootstocks for ‘Fallglo’ mandarin, whereas all rootstocks evaluated are adequate for ‘Sunburst’ mandarin.     

Evaluation of Feed Attractants in Juvenile Senegalese Sole,Solea senegalensis

The Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis, is a flatfish with increasing interest in the European aquaculture. However, one of the main limitations found in this species is related to the scarce attraction to commercial aquafeeds, thus determining low feed intake in fish farms. The aim of this study was to evaluate four ingredients of marine origin (fish meal hydrolysate [FMH], polychaete meal [POM], mussel meal [MUM], and squid meal [SQM]) as potential attractants for juvenile Senegalese sole. Four experimental feeds containing 10% of the potential attractants, plus a control diet without these ingredients, were evaluated. A total of 150 fish were distributed into ten 40‐L tanks (duplicate tanks per feed). A Latin square design was carried out, and hence all the experimental diets were offered to each tank in successive periods of 7 d. Fish were fed twice a day (morning and afternoon), and the feeding behavior of the animals was assessed by direct observations. Behavioral pattern assessed was classified as distant orientation, near orientation, or continuation of intake. The acceptability index for each behavioral phase and experimental feeds used was established for each observation. No behavioral differences could be noticed between the morning and the afternoon feedings. FMH showed the greatest attractant potential than among the ingredients assessed, and consequently this ingredient yielded the higher feed intake rates. On the other hand, POM was not the best attractant for juvenile Senegalese sole.     

Narrow genetic base in forest restoration with holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) in Sicily

In order to empirically assess the effect of actual seed sampling strategy on genetic diversity of holm oak (Quercus ilex) forestations in Sicily, we have analysed the genetic composition of two seedling lots (nursery stock and plantation) and their known natural seed origin stand by means of six nuclear microsatellite loci. Significant reduction in genetic diversity and significant difference in genetic composition of the seedling lots compared to the seed origin stand were detected. The female and the total effective number of parents were quantified by means of maternity assignment of seedlings and temporal changes in allele frequencies. Extremely low effective maternity numbers were estimated (Nf _e ≈ 2–4) and estimates accounting for both seed and pollen donors gave also low values (N _e ≈ 35–50). These values can be explained by an inappropriate forestry seed harvest strategy limited to a small number of spatially close trees.     

Fruit set dependence on carbohydrate availability in citrus trees

We generated source-sink imbalances by defoliation and sucrose supplementation by stem injection, to investigate effects of carbohydrate availability on fruitlet growth and abscission in cv. Okitsu of Satsuma mandarins (Citrus unshiu (Mak.) Marc.). Partial defoliation promoted fruitlet abscission, whereas sucrose supplementation increased citrus fruit set by more than 10%. Moreover, when applied together, sucrose supplementation counteracted the effect of partial defoliation on fruit set. When sucrose was supplied continuously from flowering until harvest, it increased the concentrations of soluble and insoluble sugars in fruits. We conclude that fruit set in citrus is highly dependent on carbohydrate availability.     

Photosynthesis and water relations of savanna tree species differing in leaf phenology

Godmania macrocarpa Hemsley, a deciduous tree characteristic of fire protected areas of the savanna region of central Venezuela, was more drought tolerant, allocated more N to leaves and had consistently higher photosynthetic rates than Curatella americana L., a ubiquitous species growing successfully within the grasslands of tropical American savannas. Godmania macrocarpa maintained higher leaf conductance and photosynthesized at higher xylem water tensions than C. americana. As the dry season progressed, G. macrocarpa was more affected by water stress than C. americana, which may explain why G. macrocarpa shed its leaves before forming new leaves. For both species, leaf sap osmolality was strongly correlated with, but not completely accounted for by, soluble sugars. Integrated water-use efficiency, as measured by delta(13)C, was similar for both species, but young leaves were more efficient than old leaves. Water-use efficiency of adult leaves was similar in both species as a result of higher photosynthetic rates in G. macrocarpa and lower leaf conductances in C. americana. Compared to G. macrocarpa, instantaneous photosynthetic N-use efficiency was higher in C. americana despite its lower maximum photosynthetic rates. The absence of G. macrocarpa trees from open grasslands, despite their high productive capacity, is possibly the result of unfavorable conditions for germination, poor survival of seedlings, and lack of resistance against fire.     

Consumer willingness to pay price premiums for environmentally certified wood products in the U.S.

Since its inception nearly 15 years ago, environmental certification has become an important issue in the wood products industry. One research question that has been examined is the potential willingness for supply chain participants to pay a premium for certified products or raw materials to offset certification costs. This study examines stated willingness to pay for four wood products from the perspective of U.S. consumers. Data was collected in 1995 and 2005 from the population of U.S. residential consumers to detect changes in willingness to pay for certified wood products along time and increase the statistical strength of the model. Results of an ordered probit model suggest that higher probabilities of paying a premium are associated to consumers who seek out certified products and who believe certification can lessen environmental impacts such as tropical deforestation. There is also a strong relationship between respondent income and willingness-to-pay. Despite the current industry structure in the U.S. that has adopted a mass-certification strategy that does not place price premiums on certified products, results suggest that such premiums may exist for imported certified tropical wood products. Analysis of marginal effects suggests consumers' willingness to pay a 10% premium for three of the four certified items studied. Niche markets may potentially be exploited in the U.S. and price premiums captured by wood products manufacturers in tropical regions and/or American importers.     

Tree density and site quality influence on Pinus halepensis Mill. reproductive characteristics after large fires

In Spain, many Pinus halepensis Mill. forests have been seriously affected by significant forest fires in the past decade, in 1994 alone, more than 100 000 ha were burned in Eastern Spain. In order to study the reproductive characteristics of P. halepensis after forest fires, six locations were selected in four areas affected by serious fires in the summer of 1994, and the following different precipitation zones were studied: dry-subhumid, dry and semi-arid. Ten years after the fires, data relevant to the production of pine cones: serotinous (grey), mature (brown), immature (green) and opened cones, was collected from areas with natural post-fire regeneration. Various cone and seed characteristics, such as pine cone seed number and weight, and germination percentage, were measured. The results showed greater production of cones and strobili in high-density sites. The biggest cone sizes (volume) and seed number per cone were related to site quality (dry-subhumid precipitation zone). Also, viability and germination percentages were higher with better site quality, with significant differences in values for serotinous and non-serotinous cones. Despite these differences, the canopy seed bank was large enough to ensure regeneration in this area for this age stand.